Ford has wasted no time initiating changes but many of his actions are ill-considered, some have already been overturned by legal challenges, and several are more about settling scores and punishing perceived enemies than enacting coherent policies. For example:
If Ford is so concerned about governing for the people, how is that enhanced by cutting in half the number of members who will be elected to govern the almost three million people in Toronto? How is that objective advanced by removing the opportunity for residents of York, Peel, Niagara, and Muskoka to elect the chairs of their regional governments and leaving them instead with chairs appointed by the province?
If Ford is so dedicated to public consultation that discussions with some 4,000 parents extending over several years was not a sufficient basis for introducing a new curriculum for sex education in 2015, why would he announce dramatic changes in the governing structure of the City of Toronto with an election campaign already in full swing and only one day before the deadline for candidates to file their papers – after consultations with no one!
How does Ford justify cancelling a $150 million dollar basic income pilot project well before its three year experiment is completed, thereby undermining the efforts to learn from this project while also leaving the participants high and dry? How does he justify cancelling more than 750 renewable energy contracts, including a wind energy project in Prince Edward County that had been under development for almost a decade? If the Liberal cancellation of the plans for two gas plants near Mississauga was the scandal of the century – as the Conservatives claimed long and loud – what are we to make of this explosion of cancellations? One result will doubtless be a number of successful lawsuits against the Ford Government, as has already happened, for example, with the Tesla suit concerning the cancelled rebates for buyers of electric vehicles.
The Example of Toronto City Council
The still unfolding saga of the composition of Toronto City Council is the best example of the governing style of Doug the Democrat. A Premier devoted to governing through the public and keen on ensuring enough consultations, would have announced a review of the governing structure in Toronto, one that would include a series of public consultations, and would lead to potential legislation to take effect at the time of the municipal elections in 2022. Such a process would provide several benefits, not least helping to educate the public about why a reduction in the size of council might be desirable (or not), thereby laying the basis for public acceptance of whatever change was to come.
There would be no question of the Ontario Government’s authority to act in this manner. Instead, however, Ford chose to act precipitously, fuelled by his animosity toward Toronto councillors, and especially the downtown and left-leaning members. The Premier devoted to democracy acted instead as a bully settling scores. By the way in which he chose to exercise powers available to the province he triggered a legal challenge that resulted in his legislation being over-turned as unconstitutional because it failed to uphold certain provisions of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
At this point, a thinking leader would have hit the pause button and contemplated a strategic and face-saving regrouping. It would have been so simple to express disappointment with, even disagreement with, the judge’s reasoning in the case, while announcing that a review of the make-up of Toronto’s council would commence early in the new term office, with any resulting changes to take effect as of the next municipal election. Instead, in a wild over-reaction, Ford hit the nuclear button and announced plans to use the notwithstanding clause to override the Charter provisions. So a clause intended for extreme circumstances and never before used in Ontario is being invoked because Doug Ford could not wait to punish his enemies on Toronto City Council.
Remembering How Ford Became Premier
Of even greater concern, Ford indicated that he was quite prepared to invoke the notwithstanding clause on other matters as well, should the courts dare to stand in his way. He was elected by the people after all, while judges are appointed and therefore, apparently, lack legitimacy. Perhaps someone should remind Ford that he was not elected Premier. He was elected as a member of the Legislative Assembly for a Toronto riding. He became Premier because he is the leader of the party that captured the most seats in the recent provincial election. He became leader of that party, it might be noted, even though he received fewer votes than the runner-up, Christine Elliott. He was chosen because a ranked ballot system of voting was used in the leadership campaign and Ford exploited it by suddenly discovering a concern about the way sex ed is taught in the schools, making a blatant and successful attempt to gain the second choice votes of the radical right and homophobic Tanya Allen.
It is understand that many in Ontario were determined that it was time for a change, that the Liberals had to go after 15 years of governing and an accumulation of scandals and baggage. It is arguable that the Conservatives were elected to form a government in spite of having Ford as leader rather than because of him. But even those who voted Conservative because of Ford would do well to keep a close eye on the new Premier. His democratic, pro-people stance notwithstanding, so far Doug the Democratic is acting much more like Dictator Doug.